Nothing shall discourage us! Students to block Abuja airport, Kaduna road today

The National Association of Nigerian Students has said its members will block the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja and Kaduna-Abuja Expressway on Wednesday (today) as part of its protest against the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

Theeditorial.ng had reported that students, on Monday, blocked the access roads to both the local and international terminals of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, leaving air passengers and others stranded.

The chairman, NANS National Task Force, ‘EndASUUstrike,’ Olumide Ojo, in an interview with The Punch, said students did not protest at the Apapa Port as earlier scheduled for Tuesday to allow them strategise and plan for an impactful protest on Wednesday (today).

Ojo said, “We decided to use today (Tuesday) to appraise our protest on Monday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja. By tomorrow (Wednesday) morning, we will be grounding the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, Abuja and Kaduna-Abuja Expressway.

“We will also be at Iwo Road, Ibadan where we will hold a press conference. It will be a simultaneous action. On Thursday, our colleagues in the South-South and South East will mobilise for a showdown too.”

The Coordinator of the South West Zone D of NANS, Adegboye Olatunji, also confirmed the Wednesday plan, saying

“Yes, there will be protests at the Abuja Airport on Wednesday.”

Also speaking, the National President, NANS, Usman Barambu, said Nigerian students had overstayed at home, saying the government should open the universities so that students could go back to school.

A letter written by Barambu to some organs of the association indicated that the students’ protest would last till October 11, 2022.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government on Tuesday warned the students against moves to block the Kaduna-Abuja Road.

The General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, Faithful Hope-Ivbaze, said security operatives have been deployed to Abuja airport.